No Rest for the Nerdy – Vol. 16

Even on vacation in Japan we still find time play video games.

by Erik, Joey, Mike & Alex Apr 29th, 2011

We never stop playing video games. That’s a fact. Even after we call it quits for the week we still look forward to getting home and continuing our digital conquests. It’s our life blood. So we thought it would be fun to share with everyone what our gaming intentions are for the weekend so you guys can get a sense of what we're playing and enjoying on a weekly, non-formal basis. Yes, this concept isn't new to the internet. But hey, we kind of want to join in on the fun. Can you blame us for that? So without further ado, here’s what we’re playing this weekend that will forfeit any semblance of rest…

Also, since we've caught up with the rest of the internet and now feature a comment section, sound off below to let us know what your gaming plans are this weekend.

Joey Davidson: This weekend, I'll be in Japan with Erik. Yeah, crazy stuff. That means the two of us will be fighting for our lives as we head to local arcades, find some Japanese nerds and throw down the gauntlet of challenge next to some Gundam games. We suck at them, sure, but we must show them the American way!!!

Cowboys.

I've also brought my 3DS and Pilotwings for the flight. There's a copy of New Super Mario Bros. staring at me right now from the window of the Best Buy vending machine that I may be stumbling over to purchase in a second.

Vacations! Unpredictable!

Alex Keen: I just picked up Dead Rising: Case West for $5 and it's tops on my to play list. I've been a huge fan of every Dead Rising game so far and this has been no exception. It's great having Frank West back in the fold and I plan on destroying legions of the undead.

I'm still slogging through Plants vs. Zombies on XBLA. There's so much replay value that I might still be playing it a year from now. I haven't even cracked through the co-op or vs. modes.

Finally, things have quieted down on my new game front and I might dive into Mass Effect 2 or Borderlands. Both games have been dormant for months now and I desperately want to return. I guess we'll see. Have fun, Joey & Erik!

Mike White: You guys seriously better bring me back something Tanooki related. The bigger the testicles the better. I want my fortune to swell like that racoon-dog's berries! That's what this is about, right? Oh, I guess not.

So this weekend I have one of two options. Big surprise here, the first option involves Rift. I can continue to plug away at the "get better gear" grind which plagues all recent max level characters in an MMO. Or, I could take the extra cash I have and get a hold of the original Guild Wars/expansions. It's their 6th anniversary and ArenaNet has promised some awesome in-game treats for players who celebrate with them. I call that the perfect time to pick up a game that has been on my to-do list for far too long.

The prospect of picking up and learning a new game is slightly daunting though. Where as in Rift, I'm finally where I wanted to be and now have the chance to test out all the fancy builds I play around with at work (Sorry, Joey). I've already wasted away too much platinum changing specs to put the game on the back burner for the time being. But free shit is free. Damn you, ArenaNet.

Erik Norris: I had plans to play my PSPgo on the trip to Japan. I took the handheld out of my bag, fired it up and immediately regretted the decision. My hands instantly felt cramped and my game library was, for lack of a better term, lacking. And it’s not like I could just hop on the PSN to download anything else to play, ammirite? Since then, the PSPgo hasn’t left the dark recesses of my backpack, and probably never will.

As an added note, you know things are bad when I freely choose to go look at books in a bookstore rather than play my PSPgo (I’m one of those types that can’t read “grown-up books,” it’s comics or bust).

So now that my handheld plans are dashed for my time spent in Japan, I guess the only real gaming option left is to play Portal 2 with the buddy I’m out visiting. Being the good friends we are, Joey and I picked up a copy of Portal 2 for the fine gentleman who’s letting us stay at his place free of charge. When we’re taking a break from all the eatin’, boozin’ and Japanese baseball gamin’ (?), we’ll probably huddle around a TV to either run through co-op, or just watch our friend experience Portal 2’s fantastic single player mode for the first time. Yup, Portal 2 is one of those types of games, one you can just sit and watch and enjoy it without ever touching the controller.